Elevator



Sept. 3, 1935- A. H. BEAL ET AL ELEVATOR Filed March 1, 1954 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STAT 1 OFFICE ELEVATOR Texas Application March 1, 1934, Serial No. 713,509

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an elevator, and has particular relation to that type of elevator particularly designed for use in handling sections of pipe and the like about a derrick in well drilling operations.

An object of the invention is to provide an elevator comprising arcuate jaws hinged or pivoted together so that when in closed position they will fit closely around the pipe to be handled, with means for securely locking the jaws around the pipe while the pipe is being lifted, said locking means also being adapted to lock the jaws in open position when the jaws are opened to release the pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevator of the character described having means arranged to lock the jaws in holding position around a pipe and whereby a joint or section of pipe may be readily handled about a derrick in drilling operation, said locking means being automatically releasable when the load on the lifting cable is released so as to permit the jaws to open.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the elevator showing the pipe engaging jaws closed and locked in closed position.

Figure 2 shows a side view thereof.

Figure 3 shows an end View.

Figure 4 shows a plan view partly in section, showing the pipe engaging jaws in open position.

Figure 5 shows a side view, showing the parts in the position shown in Figure 4, and

Figure 6 shows a side view of the device in use as applied to a section of pipe to be handled.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numerals land 2 designate arcuate complemental pipe engaging jaws which are pivoted together by means of a pivot pin 3. The pivoted end of the jaw l is extended and formed into a frame 8 having a rectangular opening 5 therethrough forming a bearing and the pivoted end of the jaw 2 is formed with an extension 8 which extends through said opening 5 and which has the rearwardly extended overhanging flange l. The frame 4 has a suitable grip 8 for handling the elevator and the jaw 2 has a grip 9 whereby said jaw may be swung open or closed.

There is a yoke ll) of an inverted U-shaped form and having the depending side arms ll, I2 which embrace the frame 4 and are pivoted to an upward extension 13 thereof by means of the transverse pivot pin it. This yoke has an up 10 standing eye [5 for the attachment of the cable It thereto.

The free end of the arm I i has a forwardly extended hook ll for a purpose to be hereinafter stated. 15

In use, the cable It is attached to the eye I5 and operates over a sheave in the crown block 18 of the derrick H). The cable is operated by means of the cat head 26 of the conventional drawworks 2|. The yoke l9 may be swung forwardly 20 a sufiicient distance to cause the hook ii to clear the extension 6 and the jaw 2 may then be swung open and then closed about the pipe to be handled and the cathead 29 operated to life the elevator and load. The free ends of the 5 arms H and [2 will be located outside of the extension 6 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the jaws will be looked around the pipe to be handled and by manipulating the cathead 29 the load may be lifted about the derrick and located at 30 any place desired.

If it be desired to lock the jaws in open position the yoke may be swung forwardly until the hook clears the extension 6 and the corresponding jaw 2 then opened and the yoke then swung 35 rearwardly to engage the hook ll between the extension 6 and the frame 4, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

It is desirable to limit the range of movement of the yoke outwardly so as to maintain the ele- 40 vator jaws as nearly as possible in a horizontal position while the load is being lifted and for that reason a stop 22 has been provided on the frame 4 to so limit the range of movement of the yoke. 45

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

What We claim is: An elevator comprising complemental arcuate clamp jaws pivoted together, the pivoted end of one jaw being extended and formed with an open- 5 ing, a yoke pivoted on said extended end, an extension on the pivoted end of the other jaw which works through said opening, said yoke hav ing side arms arranged to embrace said extension when the jaws are closed and being movable to ALBERT H. BEAL. JASPER A. HARDCASTLE. 

